atan2

This article needs attention from an expert on the subject. Please add a reason or a talk parameter to this template to explain the issue with the article. Consider associating this request with a WikiProject.(October 2016)

Graph of the tangent function from −π to +π with the corresponding signs of x and y for atan2(y, x). The green arrows show two results of the atan2 function dependent on the sign of the arguments.

In a variety of computer languages, the functionatan2 is the arctangent function with two arguments. The purpose of using two arguments instead of one is to gather information on the signs of the inputs in order to return the appropriate quadrant of the computed angle, which is not possible for the single-argument arctangent function. It also avoids the problems of division by zero.

For any real number (e.g., floating point) arguments x and y not both equal to zero, atan2(y, x) is the angle in radians between the positive x-axis of a plane and the point given by the coordinates(x, y) on it. The angle is positive for counter-clockwise angles (upper half-plane, y > 0), and negative for clockwise angles (lower half-plane, y < 0).

The atan2 function was first introduced in computer programming languages, but now it is also common in other fields of science and engineering. It dates back at least as far as the FORTRAN programming language[1] and is currently found in C's math.hstandard library, the Java Math library, .NET's System.Math (usable from C#, VB.NET, etc.), the Python math module, the Ruby Math module, and elsewhere. Many scripting languages, such as Perl, include the C-style atan2(y,x) function.[2]

In mathematical terms, atan2 computes the principal value of the argument function applied to the complex numberx+iy. That is, atan2(y, x) = Pr arg(x+iy) = Arg(x+iy). The argument can be changed by 2π (corresponding to a complete turn around the origin) without making any difference to the angle, but to define atan2 uniquely one uses the principal value in the range (−π, π]. That is, −π < atan2(y, x) ≤ π.

The atan2 function is useful in many applications involving vectors in Euclidean space, such as finding the direction from one point to another. A principal use is in computer graphics rotations, for converting rotation matrix representations into Euler angles.

In some computer programming languages, the order of the parameters is reversed (for example, in some spreadsheets) or a different name is used for the function (for example, Mathematica uses ArcTan[x,y]). On scientific calculators the function can often be calculated as the angle given when (x, y) is converted from rectangular coordinates to polar coordinates. The one-argument arctangent function cannot distinguish between diametrically opposite directions. For example, the anticlockwise angle from the x-axis to the vector (1, 1), calculated in the usual way as arctan(1/1), is π/4 (radians), or 45°. However, the angle between the x-axis and the vector (−1, −1) appears, by the same method, to be arctan(−1/−1), again π/4, even though the answer clearly should be −3π/4, or −135°.

The atan2 function takes into account the signs of both vector components, and places the angle in the correct quadrant. Thus, atan2(1, 1) = π/4 and atan2(−1, −1) = −3π/4.

Additionally, the ordinary arctangent method breaks down when required to produce an angle of ±π/2 (or ±90°). For example, an attempt to find the angle between the x-axis and the vector (0, 1) requires evaluation of arctan(1/0), which fails on division by zero. In contrast, atan2(1, 0) gives the correct answer of π/2.

When calculations are performed manually, the necessary quadrant corrections and exception handling can be done by inspection, but in computer programs it is extremely useful to have a single function that always gives an unambiguous correct result.

This produces results in the range (−π, π], which can be mapped to [0, 2π) by adding 2π to negative results.

Traditionally, atan2(0, 0) is undefined.

The C function atan2, and most other computer implementations, are designed to reduce the effort of transforming cartesian to polar coordinates and so always define atan2(0, 0). On implementations without signed zero, or when given positive zero arguments, it is normally defined as 0. It will always return a value in the range [−π, π] rather than raising an error or returning a NaN (Not a Number).

For systems implementing signed zero, infinities, or Not a Number (for example, IEEE floating point), it is common to implement reasonable extensions which may extend the range of values produced to include −π and −0. These also may return NaN or raise an exception when given a NaN argument.

The free math library FDLIBM (Freely Distributable LIBM) available from netlib has source code showing how it implements atan2 including handling the various IEEE exceptional values.

For systems without a hardware multiplier the function atan2 can be implemented in a numerically reliable manner by the CORDIC method. Thus implementations of atan(y) will probably choose to compute atan2(y, 1).

This expression may be more suited for symbolic use than the definition above. However it is unsuitable for floating point computational use, as the effect of rounding errors in x2+y2{\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\sqrt {x^{2}+y^{2}}}} is blown up near the region x < 0, y = 0 (this may even lead to a division of y by zero). The formula gives a NaN or raises an error for atan2(0, 0), but this is not an issue since atan2(0, 0) is not defined.

A variant of the last formula which avoids rounding errors being blown up is sometimes used in high precision computation:

In the Intel Architecture assembler code, atan2 is known as the FPATAN (floating-point partial arctangent) instruction.[9] It can deal with infinities and results lie in the closed interval [−π, π], e.g. atan2(∞, x) = +π/2 for finite x. Particularly, FPATAN is defined when both arguments are zero:

On most TI graphing calculators (excluding the TI-85 and TI-86), the equivalent function is called R►Pθ and has the arguments reversed.

On TI-85 the arg function is called angle(x,y) and although it appears to take two arguments, it really only has one complex argument which is denoted by a pair of numbers: x + yi = (x, y).

In mathematical writings other than source code, such as in books and articles, the notations Arctan[10] and Tan−1[11] have been utilized; these are uppercase variants of the regular arctan and tan−1. This usage is consistent with the complex argument notation, such that Atan(y, x) = Arg(x + yi).

On HP calculators, treat the coordinates as a complex number and then take the ARG. Or << C->R ARG >> 'ATAN2' STO.

The figure alongside shows values of atan2 at selected points on the unit circle. The values, in radians, are shown inside the circle. The diagram uses the standard mathematical convention that angles increase counterclockwise, and zero is to the right. Note that the order of arguments is reversed; the function atan2(y, x) computes the angle corresponding to the point (x, y).

The figure below shows values of atan2 for points on the unit circle. On the x-axis is the angle of the points, starting from 0 (point (1, 0)) and going counterclockwise, through points:

(0, 1) with angle π/2 (in radians);

(−1, 0) with angle π;

(0, −1) with angle 3π/2;

to (1, 0) with angle 0 = (2πn mod 2π). One can clearly see the branch cut of the atan2 function.[12]

atan2 on the unit circle.

The two figures below show 3D view of respectively atan2(y, x) and arctan(y/x) over a region of the plane. Note that for atan2(y, x), rays emanating from the origin have constant values, but for arctan(y/x) lines passing through the origin have constant values. For x > 0, the two diagrams give identical values.

As the function atan2 is a function of two variables, it has two partial derivatives. At points where these derivatives exist, atan2 is, except for a constant, equal to arctan(y/x). Hence for x > 0 or y ≠ 0,

While the function atan2 is discontinuous along the negative y-axis, reflecting the fact that angle cannot be continuously defined, this derivative is continuously defined except at the origin, reflecting the fact that infinitesimal (and indeed local) changes in angle can be defined everywhere except the origin. Integrating this derivative along a path gives the total change in angle over the path, and integrating over a closed loop gives the winding number.

The partial derivatives of atan2 do not contain trigonometric functions, making it particularly useful in many applications (e.g. embedded systems) where trigonometric functions can be expensive to evaluate.

"The atan2() function calculates the arc tangent of the two variables y and x. It is similar to calculating the arc tangent of y / x, except that the signs of both arguments are used to determine the quadrant of the result."